We are aiming for full potential in India-Canada trade relations: Champagne

Canada is blessed to have 1.4 million people of Indian origin: François-Philippe Champagne, Canadian Minister of International Trade

In India to discuss trade and investment issues as part of a ministerial dialogue, Canadian Minister of International Trade FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE, minister of international trade in the government of Canada, to Subhayan Chakraborty. Edited excerpts:

Bilateral trade has remained stagnant. Have both governments identified the reasons?

We have C$8 billion worth of bilateral trade, very balanced, with C$4 bn of export on each side. But, both nations have understood that trade is ultimately about people. Canada is blessed to have 1.4 million people of Indian origin and when we look at that, we feel we should not benchmark ourselves to the amount